House Rules

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses violence against people with autism.

Jodi Picoult is an American author. Born on May 19, 1966, in Nesconset, New York, Picoult discovered a passion for writing at a young age. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in creative writing and went on to pursue a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.

Picoult’s writing career took off with her debut novel, Songs of the Humpback Whale, published in 1992. Since then, she has authored numerous bestsellers across a variety of genres, including contemporary fiction, medical dramas, and legal thrillers.

Known for her research and exploration of complex moral and ethical dilemmas, Picoult’s novels often tackle controversial subjects such as racism, abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and disability. House Rules is no exception since it explores ableist discrimination in the legal system.

One of her most acclaimed works, My Sister’s Keeper (2004) explores the moral complexities surrounding organ donation and family dynamics. The novel spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and was adapted into a movie starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, and Alec Baldwin in 2009.

Likewise, her novel Small Great Things (2016) addresses issues of race, privilege, and prejudice in America and received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work.